Pinnacle submits application for high school

By MELANIE STEELESun Advocate reporter

Carbon High students work on an assignment with teacher Pat Kokal in one of the school's computer labs during an accounting class. Pinnacle Canyon Academy's application to add a charter high school would have a major effect on CHS' enrollment as well as funding for programs.

Pinnacle Canyon Academy recently submitted an application to Utah's charter school board for the addition of a high school to the program for the 2005-2006 year.

The high school, located on the top floor of Pinnacle Canyon Academy's new building on Airport Road in Price, would offer a different educational experience in Carbon and Emery counties, states the application.

Pinnacle Canyon Academy was founded in 1999 by chief administrative officer Roberta Hardy, according to the charter school's website.

Hardy was the authorized agent who submitted the application to the charter school board. According to the application's mission statement, the primary goals of Pinnacle High will include:

Integrating technical and academic education in a school that prepares students for post-secondary education and leadership in the high technology industry.

Increasing the number of educationally disadvantaged students in math and engineering who succeed in high school and post-secondary education and who becomeproductive members and leaders in the country's high technology industry.

Providing all Pinnacle High students with an excellent education and to graduate students who will be thoughtful, engaged citizens prepared to take on the difficult leadership challenges of the 21st century.

Pinnacle High would serve grades nine through 12 and would be technology-based with a focus on math and science. The projected enrollment cap would be 200students.

The application states that Pinnacle High will train its teachers to use Kagan's Cooperative Learning Model and Dufour's Professional Learning Community Model.

The Kagan's Cooperative Learning Model is based on a research program conducted by Spence Kagan beginning in 1968.

The researcher and "his associates discovered that, world-wide, children of all ages in many parts of the world became more cooperative when they were placed in certaintypes of situations," pointed out Kagan Publishing andProfessional Development.

Kagan started a research program to apply the findings to classrooms and created simple structures that allow teachers to guide the interaction of students, continued the company. Kagan's structures have proven positive results in many areas, including greater academic achievement, improved ethnic relations, enhanced self-esteem, harmonious classroom climate and the development of social skills. Kagan participants emphasize the motto: "Learn it today, use it tomorrow, apply it for a lifetime."

Pinnacle High will admit all pupils who wish to attend the school, up to the maximum amount, the application states. An outside lottery firm will conduct the lottery. The application designates the following lottery procedures:

Ã¯Â¿Â½ Interested parents will call the lottery phone number to obtain a number.

The lottery will be open for 30 days.

The lottery drawing will be held in Pinnacle Canyon Academy's multi-purpose room.

Numbers will be drawn and the order they are taken from the receptacle will dictate who is admitted.

If more students apply than can be admitted due to limited capacity, then Pinnacle High will place the remaining students on a waiting list.

Students of founding members will have their names placed on the list before the lottery begins and the openings for admission will be filled with lottery students. Dismissal procedures for the school will be the same as outlined by the State Board of Education. In addition to the Pinnacle High application, 18 other charter schools have applied to the State Charter School Board. The applications are currently beingreviewed and the charter board will be taking a final vote on charter recommendations at a Nov. 18 meeting. The charters will then be proposed to the State Board at its Dec. 3 meeting.

Carbon County School District Superintendent David Armstrong said the opposition of the school board to Pinnacle High will be voiced at the Nov. 18 meeting inSalt Lake City. According to Armstrong, the addition of the charter high school would have devastating effects on enrollment numbers for the school district and would likely lead to the elimination of several programs.